CHAPTER XXV—THE SHERIFF’S VISIT.
A letter from Babs was the first one that tumbled out on the big library table when Virginia held the pouch upside down. Other papers and letters rattled out, but both girls were eager to hear the news from Margaret’s former room-mate in the far-away boarding school.
“Dearest Megsy and Virg,” Margaret read aloud.
“I’m so happy today that I could sing like a lark, but since it is silence period, I would better just pen my joy to you two dear girls, who will, I know, rejoice with me. I am just absolutely convinced now that I know where my dear brother Peyton is. Of course his messages to me continue to be mysterious; that is, he doesn’t sign his full name, only his initials. I’m sure that they must be his, for I do not know anyone else in the world whose name begins with P. and W.
“It is just as I supposed in the very beginning. He did run away to sea, for I have now received five picture postcards signed P. W., and they were mailed at different ports in China, Japan and the East Indies. I know he is sending them to me because he realizes how unhappy I would be if I had no knowledge of his whereabouts.
“I do wish that I could write to him and tell him how happy I am just to be assured that he is well and alive, but since he wishes to be so mysterious, I will have to be content.
“And now I will tell you something else. I am saving every penny of my allowance, and before I start for the West I am going to buy a whole khaki outfit like the girls wear in the moving pictures. Oh, Megsy, how you would have laughed the other day if you could have seen our French riding master’s expression when I asked him if he would try to get a horse that bucks, upon which I might practice riding.
“‘Mees Wente,’ he said, ‘how is it that you mean? A horse that bucks? In Paris we do not have heem.’
“Every girl in the riding class wanted to shout, but of course, you know Professor La Fleur is so prim and proper we couldn’t even smile.
“However, as soon as we came back from the canter, we all met in my room and made fudge and we laughed so loud and so long that Miss Pickle put her head in at the door and asked if we thought it was quite ladylike to laugh in so boisterous a manner.
“Girls, when I get out on the desert, I am going way up om the trail Virginia calls her Inspiration Peak, and I’m going to shout just as loud and long as ever I wish. I’m so tired of always having to be proper and ladylike.
“Good-bye for now.
“YOUR PAL,
“BABS.
“P. S.—Megsy, aren’t you glad that I have located my dear brother, Peyton? B. B. W.”
Before Margaret could comment about the letter, there came a sharp rap on the front door, and Virginia, springing to open it, wondered who might be there.
It was Mr. Rizor but his men were not with him. Luckily Virginia had expected that the sheriff would stop at V. M. on his way back to town and so she did not express surprise, although Margaret did. Luckily Mr. Rizor did not glance at the eastern girl, who wisely busied herself in another part of the room. “Miss Virginia,” he said, “may I come in? There’s a matter I wish to be speakin’ about.”
“Why, of course you may come in Mr. Rizor,” the girl said, opening the door welcomingly wide, “and I hope that you will remain with us for the midday meal which is about to be served.”
Evidently he had not accompanied his men to the Mexican border, and Virginia was wondering about his reason for not having done so.
“Thanks, I’ll not be stopping but a minute,” he said. “My men are following what they think is a pretty sure trail, but my presence is more needed back in town today and so I’m headin’ that way, but, bein’ as I had something very important to say to you, I thought I’d stop even though it is a mile farther.”
Virginia’s heart beat rapidly. Had the sheriff real knowledge about Tom, and had he come to arrest him? If so, she must try to save their new cow-boy, but, how could she do it? The girl had been so busy with her own anxious thoughts that she had failed to note the expression of pleased pride that appeared in the face of the sheriff.
“Well, to come to the point, Miss Virginia,” he was saying, “we’ve got company down to our house, so to speak. Little Virginia Rizor arrived yesterday and she weighs eight pounds. My wife told me whether I caught the mail thief or not, I was to be sure and stop and tell you that she wants you to come as soon as you can to see your little namesake.” Then he added, “we’re hoping that she’ll grow up to be as fine a girl as you are.”
Virginia’s relief was so great that she almost shouted for joy. “I am indeed glad, Mr. Rizor!” she said. “Margaret, did you hear that splendid news? Please tell Mrs. Rizor that my friend and I will ride into town in a very few days to see her and the darling little baby.”
When the sheriff was gone Virginia almost cried, her relief was so great.
“The queer part of it is,” she told Margaret, “I just know that Mr. Rizor believes our Tom was the lad who was with the men who robbed the mail train, but for my sake he isn’t going to say a word about it.”
“I’m not so sure,” the other girl replied as she pointed out of the window. Virginia looked and saw that the sheriff, instead of taking the trail toward town, was slowly and thoughtfully riding toward the bunkhouse.